Sambuca is an anise-flavoured, usually colourless liqueur. Its most common variety is often referred to as white sambuca in order to differentiate it from derivative spirits that are deep blue in colour (known as black sambuca) or bright red (red sambuca).

Luxardo, the UK leading brand of sambuca, makes a popular variation flavored with anise and "other natural aromas".

Preparations and cocktails
Sambuca is often used rather than sugar to sweeten espresso coffee. A traditional Italian preparation is sambuca con mosca (literally, "with flies"); sambuca served with three coffee beans representing-health,

wealth, and happiness (or luck), dropped into the drink.

A flaming sambuca is typically made by lighting the drink in a shot glass and allowing it to burn. The flame is then extinguished and the Sambuca is quickly drunk whilst still warm. One popular method of extinguishment is placing the palm of the hand over the top of the shot glass, where suction is created causing the shot glass to "stick" to the hand. This is also potentially dangerous; if the flame is allowed to burn for too long, it will heat up the shot glass also - resulting in burn injuries to the hand.

Another method for igniting the drink is a potentially dangerous party trick known as the gas chamber. One person takes a shot of Sambuca into the mouth and someone else lights it. The flame is extinguished by closing the mouth.

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